Measuring apparatus for corsets



L. C, HILLIARD. MEASURING APPARATUS FOR CORSETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY27 I918.

1,397,865. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

UNITED STATES C. HILLIARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEASURING APPARATUS FOR GORSETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Application filed May 27, 1918. Serial No. 236,668.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LENA O. I IILLIARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Measuring Apparatus for orsets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for taking measurements of the human figure preparatory to making a pair of corsets to properly fit said figure.

The apparatus is designed to conform to a large variety of different figures and in its use is applied to the body of the one for whom the corset is to be made and the different measurements taken in a. manner hereinafter fully described.

The invention consists in an apparatus of the character described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my im proved measuring device showing the same extended.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a human figure showing the apparatus in place thereon in readiness for taking measurements, as viewed from the front.

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the human figure with the apparatus thereon as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals refer to like parts through out the several views of the drawings.

The measuring apparatus of my invention consists first of a series of eight vertical members 10, 11, 12, 13 and 1 1 and a series of four horizontal tapes 15, 16, 17 and 18, to which may be added one or more auxiliary horizontal tapes, 19. The horizontal tapes are provided with index marks subdividing the same into inches and subdivisions of an inch as in the ordinary tape measure.

Each of the vertical members consists of a flexible spring-like piece of material 20 known as a bone, such as is used for the i bone members of a corset. Said bone is covered by tapes extending downwardly along the obverse and reverse sides of the bone and joined by stitches along its opposite edges, thus inclosing the bone in said tapes and forming a covering therefor. At intervals the stitching 21 adjacent the opposite edges of the vertical members is discontinued and through the spaces thus provided the horizontal tapes extend, whereby the vertical members become slidably mounted upon the horizontal tape members.

Each of the members 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14: corresponds to a gore in the corset which 1s to be made from the measurements obtalned by means of the apparatus. The member 10 is the front clasp member and when the apparatus is placed on the body to obtain measurements this front clasp member is in the front of the body and in the center from side to side of the same.

11, 11 are groin members, 12, 12 are under arm members, 13, 13 are back members and 141 is a center back member. The groin members are located between the front clasp and under arm members and the back members are located between the under arm members and the center back member.

Each of the vertical members is provided with hooks 22 to support and guide the auxiliary tape 19.

The horizontal tapes are designated as follows; 15 is the bust tape, 16 is the waist tape, 17 is the abdominal tape, 18 is the limb spring tape and, as hereinbefore stated, 19 is the auxiliary tape and is used to take extra measurements above or below the bust tape. Each of the tapes is made of flexible non-resilient material as illustrated in the drawings, especially in Fig. 1, and provided at one end thereof with a buckle 23.

My improved apparatus for taking measurements of the human figure consists, secondly, of a device for assisting the corsetiere in placing the body, or different portions of the body, of the person being measured for corsets in proper position and is known as the poise device of my improved apparatus. Said poise device 24 consists of a bar 25, an elastic cord 26, the opposite ends of the cord being attached to opposite ends of the bar 25.

The manner in which the measuring ap paratus is employed is as follows: First, the apparatus is placed loosely and approximately in position, with the free ends of the tapes projecting through and engaging the buckles 23. The poise device is then placed in position, as shown in Fig. 3, With the elastic cord 26 extending down the two sides of the figure over'the shoulders and around back of the neck and the bar 25 extending across beneaththe arch portions of the feet. The feet are placed together and the customer bein measured stands in erect and natural positlon. When thus standing the elastic cord 26 should extend vertically on opposite sides of the figure and along the median line of the figure. At a glance the corsetiere can observe whether the median line of the customers figure coincides or approximately coincides with the line of the elastic cord 26 of the poise device. The tape 18 is first drawn up to the correct tension and fastened by its buckle, the tension to Which the tape is drawn being a matter of judgment and easily determined by a corsetiere skilled in the art.

The next tape to be adjusted is the abdominal tape. If the figure is correctly poised so that the median line of the figure coincides with the elastic cord 26 on opposite sides of the figure, then the abdominal tape is drawn up to the proper tension id secured by its buckle23. If, however, the abdomen protrudes, forwardly to too great an extent, so that the median line of the figure is located in front of the poise cord 26, the abdomen is positioned properly by the corsetiere throwing the abdomen upwardly toward the waist and said abdominal tape is then fastened by means of its buckle. The waist tape 16 is then drawn to the proper tension and fastened and the bust tape 15 is finally drawn to the proper ten- -sion and fastened.

Any portion of the body which is improperly poised relatively to the poise cord 26 can be moved by the corsetiere into proper position, the tape extending across that portion of the body being subsequently tightened.

or tapes may be used in all three of said series of hooks where very accurate measure- JllGIltS are required.

After the tapes have been drawn up and secured as hereinbefore described, the different vertical. members are adjusted to their proper positions, that is, the front clasp member 10 is located in the middle of the front of the body; the under arm members are located in line with the median line of the body or approximately with the cord 26; the groin members 11 are located substantially midway between the front clasp member and the under arm members; the center back member 14 is located in the center of the back of the body and the back members 13 are located substantially midway between the under arm members 12 and the center back member 14.

The different members of the apparatus now being in proper position, the dimensions between the different vertical members may be readafrom the different tapes and all vertical measurements may be taken by measuring vertically on the different vertical members at different portions of the body with an auxiliary tape. In reading the dimensions from the spring limb tape, if the dimensions between the different vertical members are in excess of the normal measurements of the human figure, elastic gussets are provided in the corsets to allow for such excess measurements.

ing apparatus constitutes, when positioned upon the bod askeleton corset composed of flexible, resilient, vertical members and nonresilient horizontal members connecting said vertical members together and possessing the-characteristics of a corset in that it holds the figure in shape and supports the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: v a

1. A measuring apparatus for corsets comprising a skeleton corset having, in combination, a series of vertical, flexible, resilient members and a series of horizontal, flexible, non-resilient members connecting said vertical members together.

2. A measuring apparatus for corsets comprising a skeleton corset having, in combination, a series of vertical, flexible, resilient members and a series of horizontal,

It will be seen that my improved measur-- ill flexible, non-resilient members upon which said vertical members are slidably mounted.

3. A measuring apparatus for corsets comprising a skeleton corset having, in combination, a series of vertical, flexible, resilient members and a series of horizontal, flexible, non-resilient measuring tapes upon which said vertical members are slidably mounted.

4. A measuring apparatus for corsets comprising a skeleton corset having, in combination, a series of vertical, flexible, resilient members and a series of horizontal flexible, non-resilient and non-extensible members connecting said vertical members together. V i 5. A measuring apparatus for corsets comprising a skeleton corset having, in combination, a series of vertical, flexible, resilient my hand in presence of two subscribing members, a series of horizontal, flexible, nonwitnesses.

resilient members connecting said vertical members together and means on said horizontal members adapted to fasten the opposite ends thereof together.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set LENA C. HILLIARD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. GOODING, SYDNEY E. Tm. 

